Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever

        Scarlatina or scarlet fever was the disease most feared in childhood until the beginning of the twentieth century. Become rare in France and it mostly affects children between five and ten-year periods during winter.

Scarlet fever Diagnosis

        The diagnosis of scarlet fever is based on clinical examination. The symptoms are easily interpretable. Antibiotics are effective . The treatment of scarlet fever is essential because it can lead to late complications like severe streptococcal infections. Usually, the doctor prescribes antibiotics (penicillins or macrolides) for ten days.

        The disease is contagious it keeps the child at home the first two days. The surroundings of the child must also be addressed. Rare and benign disease of children, little contagious, scarlet fever is characterized by a sore throat, inflammation of the tonsils and small scarlet red blotches on the body.

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Scarlet fever origin

        Scarlet fever is due to beta haemolytic streptococcus group A. This bacterium widespread (also responsible for angina) seat in the back of the throat. We talk about scarlet fever when the streptococcus causes local inflammation and releases into the bloodstream a toxin (poison). After an incubation period of three to five days, the disease is manifested by fever of 39-40 ° C, headache, vomiting, nausea, sore throat. Examination of the mouth shows inflammation of the mucosa, swollen tonsils and a whitish coating on the tongue. The following day, small scarlet red blotches, very close and slightly raised, appear to armpits, the folds of the groin and on the members, trunk and face. Only the skin around the mouth is spared, as the "mask of scarlet fever ". In less than a week, the redness disappeares and the skin begins to peel.

Scarlet fever evolution

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        The symptoms (pain, fever) disappeared in a week, while the exanthema can last a month. It ends with a scaling of the skin in large shreds. Complications are rare since the discovery of antibiotics .

Scarlet fever Complications :

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• Local complications: cervical lymphadenitis (infection of the lymph nodes of the neck), otitis (ear infection), rhinitis, sinusitis.
• Early complications: these are related to the spread of the toxin and affect the kidneys, joints.
• Late complications: they are represented mainly by the rheumatic fever (infection of multiple joints, risk of severe heart disease).

Common Scarlet fever treatment

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        It is absolutely essential to avoid the occurrence of potentially serious complications. It is based on an anti-streptococcus antibiotics. The duration of treatment is 10 days and must be absolutely respected:

• Penicillin V orally and benzathine-penicillin intramuscularly (in the case of risk of ill-treatment follow-up). In case of allergy to penicillin, the doctor may prescribe macrolides.
• Bed rest and isolation for 15 days.
• A soft non-aggressive diet is often necessary for patient comfort.

        The physician pays particular attention to monitoring the heart, joints and urine of the pacient 15 days after infection, because of the risk of serious complications. In subjects in contact with the patient, the doctor will provide treatment with macrolide or penicillin V for a week. There is no vaccine against scarlet fever, but once we had the disease, it remains immune for life. Scarlet fever is easily identifiable by these symptoms.

        Clinical examination prove a skin rash typical of scarlet fever (mode of onset and affected areas) but also the aspect of language, tachycardia, fever will confirm the diagnosis. A levy in the throat may also be made (before any antibiotic), highlighting the presence of streptococcus.

Scarlet fever symptoms :

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• High fever (up to 40 ° C).
• Pharyngeal pain resembling angina.
• Abdominal pain.
• Vomiting.
• Tachycardia.
• A possible phymosis.
• Supra ventricular tachycardia.
• The pre-senile dementia before 5 years.

        Exanthema is a uniform red color of the skin, which begins on chest and at the root of the members, then gradually extends to the whole body (except feet and palms of hands). It is predominant at the folds of bending (knee, elbow, groin) and it can cause itching. Exanthema is a red coloration of the mucous membranes, and constant feature (it involves a language thick and red like a raspberry, a red throat and cervical lymphadenopathy). It should be noted that the reduced forms are common. Fever is less important. The rash is more pink than red, often localized to the flexural folds. The appearance on the throat and tongue is often characteristic.

Other symptoms of scarlet fever

        Streptococcus secretes a toxin that causes the eruption of small buttons. After an incubation period of 2 to 5 days, the fever rises to 40 ° C, the throat is red and painful, causing difficulty in eating. Other symptoms are associated with scarlet fever such as headaches, neck lymph nodes and a white language. The risk of contagion disappears when the patient is put under antibiotics. One to three weeks after the onset of scarlet fever, skin is peeling on the palms of the hands and feet.

Scarlet fever pictures

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Scarlet fever prevention

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        There are no vaccines against scarlet fever, but the immunity granted by this disease is sustainable. Nevertheless, there are rare cases of recurrence, probably related to the use of penicillin.